Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD) is a type of personality disorder in which patients show paranoia, excessive suspicion of others, and hostile behavior.
Cause
The exact cause of Paranoid Personality Disorder is not known, but psychiatrists believe the most likely cause to be a combination of biological and psychological reasons. Another explanation is that physical or emotional trauma experienced during childhood may lead to Paranoid Personality Disorder. Statistics show that Paranoid Personality Disorder occurs more common in people who have close schizophrenic relatives, and psychiatrists believe that there may be a possible genetic link between Paranoid Personality Disorder and Schizophrenia.
Symptoms
People who have this disorder are suspicious of others and believe that others are trying to harm them. They are unable to form close relationships with others because of such suspicions and distrust of others. Patients of Paranoid Personality Disorder are unforgiving and reluctant to reveal personal information. They are often overly sensitive and read nonexistent hidden meanings in innocent people. They are easily annoyed and are cold and distant in their social relationships. They believe that they are always right, and feel uncomfortable with oppositions. They are often hostile and argumentative.
Treatment (in the film)
The main character Catherine's sister tries to get her move to New York where, according to her, lifestyles are more lively and comforting. She wants Catherine to see a professional psychiatrist but Catherine strongly opposes by saying she is perfectly fine. No actual treatment is shown in the film.
Treatment (in real life)
Because individuals with PPD believe that they are perfectly fine, someone else must help them in order to receive proper treatment. Paranoid Personality disorder is often treated with psychotherapy, which is a form of counseling. Treatment is supposed to improve social interaction, communication with others, and self-esteem. If the patient's symptoms are extreme or if the person suffers a lot due to anxiety or depression, then antidepressant or anti-psychotic drugs are prescribed to them.
What I learned
I learned that Paranoid Personality Disorder occurs more often in people than I had thought previously. Even though I heard of paranoid personality disorder through our textbook, I was unable to actually picture what a person with such a disorder would actually go through. I learned the actual symptoms of people with this disorder by seeing the main character Catherine's reactions to situations that happened to her. When her sister asked her to move to New York, she insisted on staying in her original home and kept reassuring her sister that she was perfectly fine. It was also interesting to see that she had hallucinations in the beginning of the movie although her father is dead by that time.
Why I Chose Proof
At first I chose to watch the Silence of the Lambs, but realized it contained too many violent scenes. So I looked for a movie that did not have any violence in it, and I ended up choosing Proof. I was also attracted by the actors and actresses as well because I recognize both Gwyneth Paltrow and Jake Gyllenhaal. Another major reason I chose Proof was because I wanted to see how personality disorders were present in geniuses, because of the widely held belief that the most intelligent people are often mentally ill. I thought it would be interesting to see a girl cope with her mental illness but make academic discoveries at the same time.
Grading:
Use of class time 4/5 Reason for grade: I had to change the movie in the middle and used most of the time downloading the movie since it needed about an hour to download. I could have downloaded the movie at home and watch it at school.
Depth of work done 15/15 Reason for grade: I spent a lot of time researching and organizing the wiki page. I watched the movie from beginning to end and thoughtfully reflected upon what I have seen in the movie.
What I learned 5/5 Reason for grade: I think I really got a better understanding of what it actually is like to have PPD through watching the movie.
Wikispace's attractiveness 5/5 Reason for grade: I adjusted the font, color, and inserted pictures to make the wiki page visually attractive.
Total 29/30
Bibliography
" Watch Free Online Movies Here | Archive ." Watch Free Online Movies Here | Free Online Streaming Movies . N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2011. <http://www.watchonlinemovieshere.com/sitemap/>.
Proof (2005)
Movie Trailer
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Cause
Symptoms
Treatment (in the film)
Treatment (in real life)
What I learned
Why I Chose Proof
Grading:
Use of class time 4/5
Reason for grade: I had to change the movie in the middle and used most of the time downloading the movie since it needed about an hour to download. I could have downloaded the movie at home and watch it at school.
Depth of work done 15/15
Reason for grade: I spent a lot of time researching and organizing the wiki page. I watched the movie from beginning to end and thoughtfully reflected upon what I have seen in the movie.
What I learned 5/5
Reason for grade: I think I really got a better understanding of what it actually is like to have PPD through watching the movie.
Wikispace's attractiveness 5/5
Reason for grade: I adjusted the font, color, and inserted pictures to make the wiki page visually attractive.
Total 29/30
Bibliography